The Mosque of Rome, with an area of 30,000 m², is the largest mosque in Europe and can accommodate several thousand people.
It is located in the Acqua Acetosa area, at the foot of the Monti Parioli, north of the city. As well as being the city's mosque it is the seat of the Centro Culturale Islamico d'Italia (the Italian Islamic Cultural Centre).

In addition to being a meeting place for religious activities, it provides cultural and social services variously connecting Shia and Sunni Muslims. It also holds wedding ceremonies, funeral services, exegesis, conventions, and other related events.

Construction

The mosque was financed by Faisal of Saudi Arabia, head of the Saudi royal family, as well as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The project was designed and directed byPaolo Portoghesi, Vittorio Gigliotti and Sami Mousawi.Its construction took more than ten years: the Roman City Council donated the land in 1974, but the first stone was not laid for another ten years, in 1984 (1405 AH), in the presence of then President of the Italian Republic Sandro Pertini, with its inauguration on June 21, 1995.

Architecture

The structure is well integrated in the surrounding green area, from which it emerges without contrast, perfectly matching the mix between modern structural design and omnipresent curves (the large one knows it of prayer recalls a forest undoubtedly - or un' oasis, with its columns to three steles), use of the light in order to create a meditativo climate, and use of materials that generate colours typically roman, like travertino and cotto. Decorative, much discreet apparatus nell' amplitude of the space contains that it, is constituted from invetriate of light colors. The repeated Koranic topic is Allah is light.

Organization

The current Imam of the mosque is the Egyptian Ala' al-Din Muhammad Isma'il al-Ghobashi; Abd Allah Ridwan is in charge of the Cultural Center, to which the management of the complex is entrusted. Former Imams include: